Midland MXT295 PRO: A 15-Watt GMRS Radio With a Cordless Handset

The coiled handset cable has been tangling around shifters, coffee cups and elbows since before most of us got our licenses. Midland's new MXT295 PRO cuts the cord, and that's the headline.

What the MXT295 PRO is

It's a 15-watt GMRS MicroMobile radio priced around $300. GMRS is the license-required two-way radio service a lot of convoys and trail groups use, and "MicroMobile" means the guts live in a small receiver instead of a big dash box. Power runs 15 watts on high and 5 watts on low.

The handset connects over Bluetooth and controls the whole unit. Midland puts its range at 100 feet from the receiver. Since the handset does the work, the receiver can go almost anywhere in the vehicle. The handset is stated to run about 60 hours per charge, takes 4 hours to recharge from empty, and works while it charges.

Specs worth a look

• Build: IP67 rated for dust and water, on the MXT275 platform.
• Screen: about 25% larger than the MXT275's, and dimmable.
• Features: 154 privacy codes, 8 repeater channels, NOAA weather, scan and dual watch.
• Jacks: external speaker, PA speaker and wired intercom.
• Charging: a USB-C port on the receiver can charge devices.

The box includes the receiver, handset, a 2.1 dB magnetic-base antenna, a slide-in receiver mount, a 12V power cord, a USB-C charging cable and a magnetic handset mount. Midland backs it with a 3-year warranty.

The channel count that won't hold still

The spec list says 99 channels, including pre-programmed privacy code channels, up from 23 on the MXT275. One YouTube creator's video lists 22. Those numbers can't both be right, so confirm the channel setup before you spend money.

Install stories from the field

Two accounts, two different days. One reviewer swapped in a different antenna and ran the wiring through the firewall of a 5th-gen Toyota 4Runner. It took about an hour.

The YouTube creator was replacing a larger 50-watt MXT575 in a Defender-style Grenadier. The plugs didn't match, so he plans to splice into the existing wiring. He also noted that the default mounting orientation points the speaker down, so he mounted the unit upside down.

He had also seen range claims from 40 to 140 feet for the handset, and he planned to check for himself. His warning: burying the unit under metal could cut reach. The 100-foot number is Midland's.

The license part

Fifteen watts means you need a GMRS license. It costs $35, lasts ten years, requires no test, and the holder must be 18 or older.

What it means for you

If you run GMRS in a convoy or on remote trails and you dislike handset cables or a box hogging dash space, the small receiver and Bluetooth handset give you more freedom in where this radio lives. Check your license status first.

If you're replacing an older Midland radio, check the plug types, because rewiring may be on the menu. And remember that 15 watts is well below the 50-watt MXT575, so think about your terrain and range needs before you swap.

Bottom line: it's a tidy way to lose the cord. Just make sure your plugs, license and channel count all line up before the trail does.

Sources: gearjunkie.com, youtube.com, treadmagazine.com. Photo by Wild Huang on Unsplash.